Spring House, Manna House to Combine Programs

A message from the county:

The Board of Trustees of the Homing Corporation, the parent organization of , and the Board of Directors of Monmouth Neighborhood Housing Inc., the parent organization of Manna House, today announced plans to combine their transitional housing programs. This decision is the culmination of a collaboration process and agreement that the two organizations, which have contracts with Monmouth County, initiated in April 2010.

“Spring House and Manna House share an identical mission – breaking the cycle of homelessness through programs for homeless women and their children,” explained Scott Garley, president of Spring House. “In the beginning of 2010, our respective boards met to look for ways to create greater efficiencies, operational benefits and more effective programs for our residents.”

The collaboration agreement includes a number of initiatives, including the decision to share an executive director between both organizations.

In order to continue to provide transitional housing services that best meet the needs of Monmouth County while also remaining economically viable, the respective boards, in consultation with the Monmouth County Department of Human Services, agreed to combine the Spring House program with the Manna House program in Cliffwood Beach, beginning Sept. 1, 2011.

“This decision, while difficult, will prove to be the most prudent means of continuing to provide transitional housing services to those in need,” Garley said. “Working in collaboration with county officials and the Manna House board, we explored numerous options and concluded the combination of the two programs is the best course of action for all concerned.”

“The need to collaborate is something our nonprofits began talking about more than two years ago as a result of the worsening economy,” said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, liaison to the Monmouth County Department of Human Services. “These two organizations decided the best way to continue providing services to homeless women and their children is by working together. I applaud them for making this difficult choice, and I know the decision is based on what is in the best interests of the people in need.”

Jeff Schwartz, director of the Division of Planning and Contracts within the Monmouth County Department of Human Services, said, “We have had a wonderful working relationship with both Spring House and Manna House and are grateful for the services they have provided and the lives they have changed over the past 20 years. Manna House, along with Linkages – a county owned transitional housing facility – will provide sufficient capacity to serve the needs of the homeless in a cost-effective manner.”

The transitional housing programs run by these organizations are supported in part by the Monmouth County Division of Social Services.

Nancy Pieper, president of the board of directors of Manna House, said, “We look forward to welcoming the Spring House families to Manna House. Operating at higher capacity can only improve the services we provide to our residents. Today, we remain heavily reliant on community support to fulfill our mission. We hope that the benefactors of both Manna House and Spring House will continue to support our combined efforts to provide for the needs of the homeless women and their children in Monmouth County.”

“I am proud of Spring House – its employees, board and benefactors,” Garley said. “Our actions over the past 20 years and our actions today will continue to help those in need throughout our community.”